Type-distributing apparatus



(No Model.) Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. K. JOHNSON 8v A. A. LOW.

TYPE DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

No. 282,988. l Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

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(No Model.)

A mmmsheet 3. L. K. JOHNSON 8v A. A. LOW.

T-YPB DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

No. 282,988. Patented Aug. `lll, 1883.

N. PETERS. Mms-magnum, washington. IM;

@sheets-shawl;

(No Model.)

L. K. JOHNSON 8v A. A. LOW.

Y TYPE DIsTRIBUT-ING APPARATUS.

No. 282,988. Patented Aug. 14, 1883.

8 fae'gza'e 8.

UNITED STATES f PATENT; EEICE.

LOUIS K. JOHNSON AND A'. AUGUSTUS LOW, OE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,

TYPE-DISTRI BUTING` APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.282,988, dated August 14, 1.883,

Application iled February 13:1852. (No model.)

To all whom t may concer/1,: Be it known that we, LOUIS K. JOHNSO and A. AUGUSTUS LOW, citizens of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvente'd a new and useful Type-Distributing Apparatus, of which the following is a specication. Y Our invention" relates to that class 'of type L distributing apparatus in whiclrthe separate types are deposited by hand in receivers, from which they are conductedto and arranged in a prescribed manner `in transferable containused in type-setdate a double ,case of type, or two complete sets of characters, in a space but little greater than that formerly required for a 'single case. Two operators may thus be employed at the same time in distributing upon the same apparatus. Aside fromthe economy in cost and space thus attained `by the use of our duplex apparatus under any circumstances, it is particularly adapted to be used inlconuection with the type-setting apparatus invented by and patented to Louis K. Johnson, for the reason that a compositor working with one of the said type-Setters is enabled to set up 7 nearly twice asfast as the type can ordinarily be dis Ytributed byhand, and consequently one of our duplex distributing-cases would always form a proper adjunct to each setting apparatus.`

rlhe Object of the second feature of our invention is to adapt the apparatus to the distribution ofdifferent sizes of type; and it consists informing the lower ends of the conduits (which are made` of sufficient width to conduct the largest sizeof type) so as to permit them to enter and engage with containing channels of different widths, and in correspondinglyflaring or widening the mouths of the smaller sizes of said containingchannels, solas to cause the inner surfaces of their side walls to connect and form continuations of the side walls of the conduits, thus furnishing a smooth continuous lateral support for the descending type.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis ay planv of our duplex distributingtable, showing the relative arrangement-of the containingchannels and the banks of receiversfand conduits; Fig; 2, a plan of a portion of the apparatus, fullsize, parts being broken away to show details. sections of a receiver and conduit, taken, re'- `Figs; 6 and 7 i are corresponding vertical sections, showing the method of depositing and forwarding the type; and Fig.' `8 is an isometrical view, showing the` general form of our duplex distributing-table and the combination i therewith of the4 auxiliary compartmentcase and the sliding channel-racks.

Two banks `B B ofreceivers and conduits are arranged, one at each end ofthe table or bed A, and facing each other. Each bank is preferably composed of one hundred receivers, o-and their'conduits c,that number having been found sufficient to accommodate all of the characters in a font of type which are most frequently employed in printing; but there are still other denominations of type included'ina complete fontthat are, comparatively speaking, only occasionally required, for which it is still desirable to provide some smallfcapitals, &c.,and which, if provided for in the cases or banksupon the table, would undulyincrease the width of the apparatus, so that their particular receivers would not be within convenient reach of the operator, while the cost of the apparatus would be nearly doubled. In order to furnish a ready and convenient means of disposing of these extra types, we provide an auxiliary compartment drawer or case, (t), sliding in suitable ways underneath the table or bed A, and capable of being drawn out on either side of the latter, t so as to be equally accessible to both operators.

In regard to the remaining one hundred the position ofthe op erator, and employ thirty long channels, C', to receive the type therefrom. The banks B B are arranged a distan ce convenient means of disposition-as italics,

Figs. 3, 4, and aretransverse spectively, onlinesx x, y y, and e z', Fig. 2.

ferredl characters at the end of the bank nearest .y roo from each other equal to the length of these long containing-channels C', less the width of one bank, and are placed relatively upon opposite sides of the table, so as tol permit the outer ends of each of the sets of the said thirty long containing-channels to project beyond the front of and at the side of the' opposite bank farthest from the position of its operator. The seventy remaining containing-channels Cl required for each ca-se or bank are made of a length which is equal to a little less than half the distance between the opposite banks, so that both sets of short containingl,channels can be compactly arranged end to end in the space between the said banks and the opposite sets of long channels.Y Every inch of available space is thus fully utilized, and the capacity oflthe apparatus practically doubled and adapted to the use of two separate operators at the saine time withoutY materially increasingthe size of the apparatus over that of a single case, as heretofore constructed.

The lower portion of each receiver Ir is formedlwith a trip,7 or type controller, s, which insures the descent of each type upon its flat7 or broad side before it can pass through the conduit. This trip consists, essentially,

of an inwardly-projecting flange, formed pref-4 erably by bending over the lower portion of one side wall of the receiver toward the iioor lof the latter a sufficient distance to prevent the passage of a type While riding upon its edge. To insure the contact with this trip of each type dropped into the receiver, the passage or channel c, (of which the trip s forms the lower side wal1,) between the receiver r .and the straight portion c of the conduit, is curved laterally a sufficient distance to bring the main Aportion of the receiver beyond and to one side of its conduit. The combined ef-l fect of the incline and curve in the lower side wall of the receiver is to turn all types that ride down upon their edges over upon their liat or broad sides, in which position they are at liberty to pass down into and through the conduit.

Iii/order to adapt the apparatus to the distribution of types of all sizes, we make all the conduits of sufficient width to accommodate the largest type to be used. The centralizing; tongues or continuations d of thek conduit floors which project into and sustain the containingchannels' at that end are, however, made tapering or wedge-shaped, so as to enter the ends of channels varying in width according to the size of the type to be distributed. The ends of all but the widest containing-channels C are p also correspondingly flared or chamfered to fit over the conduit projections d, and so as to rconnect the inner surfaces of their side'walls with those of the conduits, as shown in Fig. 2, and thereby furnish a smooth continuous lateral support for the descending type. An important feature of this construction is that we adapt a single apparatus to the distribution of types of all sizes, and at the same time avoid the necessity of a single mechanical change or adjustment of parts, the simple substitution of one set of channels for another being all that is requisite. The saving in cost of apparatus and economy of space thus attained is also an important consideration to users.

The conduits c are inclined at an'angle that will allow the types to descend gently by their own gravity. The tongues d, d, which are practically continuations of the floors ofthe conduits, project into the containing channels when the latter are in position. The containing-channels extend horizontally, or nearly so, in front of the conduits, so that a type will de scend into any of them atan angle corresponding to that of the iioor of the conduit. This angle it will maintain until raised and forwarded by the forward stroke of the pusher l?, by reason of its foot resting in the angle formed' between the iioor ofthe containing-channel and' the last preceding type, while its upper portion rests against the projeetionl of the conduit-Hoor and the front of the pusher. The last preceding type is always ready to thus receive and sustain the next succeeding type, because the movement of the pusher is so regulated. as to leave the former type in such position that the apex of the angle between it and the iioor of the containing-channel will always be directly inthe lineof incidence of the de.- scending type. The frontends of the pushers are beveled to the same angle as that of the conduits, and they are so regulated that when in their retracted position their front edges will coincide with and form continuations of the floors of the conduits, thus adapting them to `assist in conducting the types gently to thc floors of the receiving-channels.-

The pushers are preferably made together in the form of a comb, P, which is reciprocatedin any suitable manner, and they are so mounted with relation to the positions of the channels that in advancing they bear first upon the inclined type at va point above its center. W'e prefer to make the pushers intermittent in their action by means of cams, as indicated in Fig. 6, or by other suitable mea-ns, so arranged as to allow them to remain stationary in the retracted position the greater portion of the time, for the purpose of reducing the possibility of their retarding the descent of rthe types to the minimum degree. By thus conducting each type gently down to they floor of the receiving-channel, controlling it upon the fiat until it is so deposited, we practicallyobviate all danger of rebound or displacement and secure the addition of each type to the column in the prescribed position. By allowing the upper portion of the type to rest against the front edge of the pusher when the latter is in its retracted position it will, during its forward m'ovement, gradually raise the type to the perpendicular and advance it without any jar or pounding. This method of controlling the type upon its iiat and lifting it into the perpendicular position after it has reached the floor ofthe containing-ch anuel instead of drop- IOOv IIO

fping it from above and 'pushing Yit suddenly forward, as heretofore, obviously avoids considerable wear and tear upon the type.

For the purp'oseof affording a convenient means of storing the containing-channels when not actually in use, weprovide a series of sliding channel-racks, R R, mounted underneath the distrbutingstable and auxiliary compartmentcase, as indicated in Fig. 8.

That We claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-1 l. A duplex hand type-distributing apparatus, arranged and operating` substantially as herein designated, in which two series .of con paratively short containing-channels are arranged end to end between the opposite banks of receivers and conduits, while two sets ol comparatively long containing-channels occupy positions respectively upon opposite sides y of the shorter channels and beyond the opposed 2o bank of receivers and conduits, substantially as herein described, and i'or the purposes set 

